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With schools facing what must feel like ever-shrinking budgets — the 2011 Legislature most recently slashed $100 million in state spending on K-12 education — and the ever-present reality of layoffs, paraprofessionals are showing their value.

Linda Aldridge, the general director of special services for Topeka Public Schools USD 501, said paraprofessionals are “critical” because they are becoming increasingly important to the educational process.

“These paraprofessionals, day to day, they move mountains,” Aldridge said.

Not only that, but their salaries don’t break the bank.

The Topeka Capital-Journal requested salary data for all public employees in Shawnee County for an online database, which can be found at CJOnline.com/salaries.

The average para in USD 501 makes about $10.60 an hour, which comes out to a little less than $15,000 a year if the employee works a full-time slate during the nine-month school year.

The average classroom teacher in the school district makes about $42,700.

Comparatively, Topeka-area schools have similar average teacher and para salaries:

■ Auburn-Washburn USD 437: Teachers make about $44,000, while paras make about $14,000 or about $10.92 an hour.

■ Shawnee Heights USD 450: Teachers make about $46,500, while paras make about $14,500.

■ Seaman USD 345: Teachers make about $43,000, while paras make about $13,800 or about $10.75 an hour.

Aldridge said when class sizes in USD 501 grow larger than what the district likes, a para can be assigned to help the teacher.

The majority of paras in the district are assigned to special education students, and other paras work with students who are learning the English language or any of a number of other specific needs areas.

Paras are another set of eyes and hands to help improve the learning process for students, Aldridge said.

“As resources shrink we just want to use every person to maximum advantage for students,” she said.

The 2011 Legislature funded the latest school year at $3,780 per pupil. Just a few years ago the base aid from the state per pupil was $4,400.

A 2009 Kansas Association of School Boards report showed Kansas school districts had eliminated more than 3,700 teaching and non-teaching positions to save nearly $100 million, with more cost-saving measures planned.

Jeremy Gibson, president of NEA-Topeka, the teachers’ union, said new demands placed on classroom teachers places more expectations on them now then ever before.

Federally mandated benchmarks and goals also place an added burden on staffs.

“And now they’re doing more with either the same number of kids or maybe just a little bit more,” Gibson said. “It’s strenuous.”

He said paras are a great aid as a unique tool to help accomplish things that a classroom teacher may not have the time or resources for.

According to data provided by the district, there are 470 paras who work for USD 501. Of those, Aldridge said, 350 work with special needs students.

Special ed paras are “very involved” in the instructional process, Aldridge said, and always under the direction of a licensed special ed teacher.

“They help individualize what the kids are learning,” she said.

Inclusion paras work in a general education environment. They may have tasks ranging from keying a child to stay on task and organized, Aldridge said, to taking a student or a group aside after a discussion to help reinforce the lessons.

Paras also can go a long way toward helping students achieve federal standards on state testing from which no student is exempt.

Aldridge said three tests are given — two of which are modified to specific levels for special needs students and one given to the general student populace — to the schools each year.

“Paras oftentimes are key to making sure that children have access in ways they normally wouldn’t have in order to learn what they’ll be tested on and to learn the gen ed curriculum,” she said.

As far as becoming a para in the Topeka school district, a high school diploma is required.

Interested people can apply through human resources at the Burnett Center, 624 S.W. 24th, and then go through a screening process.

Aldridge said the district provides on-the-job training for paras and is building toward providing more of that.

“Our paraprofessionals are a stellar bunch of people,” she said.

Corey Jones can be reached at (785) 295-5612 or corey.jones@cjonline.com.

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With the huge class sizes it's really hard for the teachers to help slower students one on one.
Paras are a big help to these students. Teachers also have a lot more paperwork to do than they used to. They just don't have the time for each individual child. Paras have the time. They're not bogged down w/ all the paperwork & can spend all of their time teaching what the teacher has layed out. They really are not paid enough for all they do.

Yes , Para's are priceless. They save the school districts money. The ones who work with special need children are not paid enough for what they have to do. They are the lowest paid. They deserve alot more than what they get. Some work without breaks and work their lunch periods without pay. They do a thankless job that most people wouldn't do.

The sad thing, which you may not be aware of, is that a lot of paras new to the profession actually HAVE teaching degrees. Teaching jobs are so scarce with the last few years of budget cuts that many eager educators have accepted para-educator jobs in the hope of having a foot in the door when the districts start hiring again. Of course, the districts see this as another great bargain....can you hear the thoughts of "well, this person actually IS a teacher, only we don't have to pay them as much!"

The WatchD.O.G.S. program is great to have in the schools too. Male role models helping in the classrooms as volunteers. Many children are in single parent homes and most of those are missing the positive male figure. This is a great opportunity for dads, grandpas and uncles to get involved in their childrens, and other children's lives in positive ways. We help kids one-on-one that may have fallen a little behind the class, as well as any thing else the teacher may need help with. Paras are a great help to the districts and are a valued assistant to teachers, however the WatchD.O.G.S. program does it for free.

The WatchD.O.G.S. program is great to have in the schools too. Male role models helping in the classrooms as volunteers. Many children are in single parent homes and most of those are missing the positive male figure. This is a great opportunity for dads, grandpas and uncles to get involved in their childrens, and other children's lives in positive ways. We help kids one-on-one that may have fallen a little behind the class, as well as any thing else the teacher may need help with. Paras are a great help to the districts and are a valued assistant to teachers, however the WatchD.O.G.S. program does it for free.

Don't get confused. Teachers still plan the lessons and teach them (and do a million other little jobs throughout the day that I think you may not have considered). The para-educators are there to work 1-on-1 with kids who need it. They mainly work with kids with special needs, as the article indicates, but occasionally, also in classrooms where the class size is larger than average (as the article also indicates). The para is there to carry out instructions from the teacher and help with modifications. This isn't to say paras aren't underpaid. They are. As are most extra support professionals. As are teachers.

I work in USD 501 as a Para. I make 10.46/hr. I, like most Para's I know, only get paid for a 7 hr day, about 180 day year. So I make roughly $13,000 a year. Also, unlike some other districts, USD 501 does not offer a 12 month pay plan - some school districts offer breaking up the 9 month pay into smaller paychecks but spreading it over a 12 month year. This makes for a stressfull summer; finding a second job for June, July and the first part of August.

I love working with the kids I work with. The other staff I work with are a wonderful group of people. I enjoy going into work each morning. I am thankful that they are acknowledging ParaEducators' hard work and dedication. I just wish the finacial side of things matched this sentiment.